Chili Peppers and Weight Loss

Can eating Chili peppers help you lose weight?

Some research suggests chili peppers may increase weight loss. The experts at the University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Letter help you evaluate the claims.

Chili Peppers and Appetite: The Basics

In a study conducted in 2011, scientists found that people who consumed chili peppers in a meal ate less and had fewer cravings for fatty or salty foods.

Reviewing the Research

The reduction in cravings for high fat and high sodium foods and the reduced appetite appears to only occur in people who don't
normally eat spicy foodsnot those who eat spicing food regularly.

Chili Peppers and Weight Loss: The Bottom Line

Because the appetite-suppressing benefits of chilis seem to subside the more you eat them, effects may never be enough to lead to weight loss. But the capsaicin in chili peppers may trigger the release of feel-good body chemicals and boost mood.

If you like chili peppers, here are a few recipes to try (whether you are or aren't trying to lose weightthese spicy vegetables are full of healthy vitamins A and C).